April 12, 2013
Mood disorders: A silent illness
Vancouver Sun
Depression and bipolar disorder affects at least five per cent of Metro Vancouver’s population. With quotes from Dr. Raymond Lam, medical director of UBCH’s Mood Disorder Center of Excellence. This article is part of series sponsored by VGH and the UBC Hospital Foundation to raise funds for the recently announced Joseph and Rosalie Segal Family Health Centre.
Addicts shoot up in safe haven in Canada
CNN (video clip)
VCH’s InSite Supervised Injection Site provides addicts a safe place to use drugs.
Health authorities’ letter disrespectful to nurses: Union
Vancouver Sun – Letter
In response to an article on the costs of joining licensed practical nurses (LPNs) with registered nurses, the president of the BCNU says B.C.’s health authorities have been “unprofessional” towards LPNs.
Ugly theft made beautiful by caring community
Coast Reporter
A theft at Lions Gate Hospital has brought out kindness and compassion from coastal communities.
Birth a first for Olympic Mobile Medical Unit
Pique Magazine
Last weekend, the first B.C. baby was born in PHSA’s mobile medical unit in Pemberton.
2013 Top 10 Endangered Sites Tour with Heritage Vancouver
Miss 604 (blog)
St. Paul’s Hospital was included as a location on the Top Ten Endangered Sites Bus Tour.
Metro Vancouver comes out in opposition to coal shipments along Fraser River
Vancouver Sun
Metro Vancouver narrowly voted in favour of opposing coal shipments along the Fraser River on Thursday. Metro directors also agreed to support a health impact assessment that was suggested by VCH and Fraser Health.
Doctors report cause of death incorrectly too often, expert says
CBC News
A CBC investigation—part of the series that has been aired all week–says the cause of death reported in death certificates is frequently incorrect.
April 11, 2013
Two major Vancouver hospitals cut surgical waiting times by 21 per cent
Vancouver Sun (Source: CP. Also appeared in the Huffington Post, the Times Colonist, News 1130, News Talk 610 CKTB, CHMB AM1320 News, Fairchild Radio News, and Ming Pao)
The surgical wait times at VGH and UBC hospitals have been cut by 21 per cent in the past year.
CBC hospital rankings draw condemnation and praise
CBC News
The CBC report on Canadian hospitals is receiving a mixed reaction from hospital officials and medical associations across the country.
CBC Rate My Hospital site flooded with more than 23,000 rankings
CBC News
CBC’s Rate My Hospital tool has received more than 23,000 responses.
Squamish Hospital scores ‘B’ in rankings
The Chief
VCH’s Squamish General Hospital received a “B” grade in a nationwide hospital ranking survey.
Hoarding cases on the rise in Vancouver
News 1130
A team assigned by the City of Vancouver to respond to hoarding concerns has seen its caseload double since last spring. The team is the result of a partnership between VCH and the City of Vancouver.
Pilot program examines more than 200 cases of hoarding over past year
Vancouver Sun
VCH and the city have teamed up to tackle hoarding in Vancouver.
City reports early progress in helping hoarders
Vancouver Courier
VCH and the City of Vancouver are tackling more than 200 hoarding cases around the city.
Vancouver Hoarders
CTV News (video clip)
VCH and the city are teaming up to reduce the increasing number of compulsive hoarders in the city.
Vancouver takes team approach to help compulsive hoarders
Metro News
The Vancouver Hoarding Action Response Team has dealt with more than 200 cases since last May. The team is the result of a partnership between VCH and the City of Vancouver.
B.C.’s Health professionals will fight health authority’s attempt to break contract agreement
The Rundown (NUPGE website)
In a letter from VCH human resources managers, staff were told they will be moving to a five-day, 7.5 hour work week and nine-day fortnights and earned days off will be eradicated.
Conference to explore aspects of aging
Vancouver Sun – Column
A geriatric services conference sponsored by Providence Health Care’s Tapestry Foundation will look at a number of different topics regarding aging. Speakers included Drs. Larry Dian and John Sloan.
Province is experimenting with how to boil a frog
Vancouver Sun – Op-Ed
ER departments need more money and more government commitment to improve services for patients, says the president of the B.C. Medical Association Section of Emergency Medicine
April 10, 2013
5 Metro Vancouver hospitals rate lowest in Canada
CBC News
According to a CBC study, five of the nine lowest-ranked hospitals in Canada are in Metro Vancouver, including VGH and UBCH.
Why the fifth estate rated Canadian hospitals
CBC News
The purpose of Rate My Hospital is to bring more transparency and accountability to the Canadian health care system.
These Canadian hospitals earned top grade in CBC report card
CBC News
Hospitals in Alberta, New Brunswick, Manitoba, Ontario and Saskatchewan made up the top 10 in CBC’s list of rated hospitals.
Provinces team up to block CBC’s hospital data request
CBC News
Health officials across the country are denying CBC’s request for information on individual hospitals.
Doctors declare ‘emergency’ in B.C.’s ERs
North Shore Outlook
Two Lions Gate ER doctors say conditions need to improve in hospitals.
Early use of an anti-HIV drug cocktail can reduce HIV death rate, Vancouver study finds
Vancouver Sun (Source: CP, also appeared in The Province, The Tyee and Metro News)
A study says a new drug therapy can help reduce the death rate from HIV. With quotes from Dr. Julio Montaner, director of the BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS.
April 9, 2013
Proposed nursing changes slammed
Vancouver Sun
The heads of B.C.’s six health authorities have urged the government to halt a planned reorganization of the province’s nurses until there is a full understanding of a move that some say could cost about $10 million a year.
B.C. work program finds employment for those with mental-heath issues
Globe and Mail
A New Westminster man sees his mental illness as a full-time job. With quotes from Andrew MacFarlane, mental health and addictions director for VCH.
Dirty hospital rooms a top concern for Canadians
CBC News
A third of respondents for an online survey say Canadian hospital rooms are not being kept clean.
Woman with schizophrenia wanders away from hospital
The Province
RCMP are asking for the public’s help to find a woman who went missing Thursday from UBC Hospital. (The patient was later found.)
Risk of deadly new flu spreading to B.C. is low
The Province
B.C.’s chief medical officer says the chances of a new bird flu spreading to the province are low.
April 8, 2013
Man’s illness brings him full-circle through B.C.’s justice system
Globe and Mail
A New Westminster man with a form of schizophrenia has gone through the entire B.C. justice system – from a robbery suspect to a speaker at the Justice Institute of B.C. The man had stayed at number of hospitals including UBC Hospital and St. Paul’s.
Training sessions change dialogue between B.C. police and mentally ill individuals
Globe and Mail
Law enforcement is being trained to help them deal with calls involving mentally ill individuals.
B.C. nurses among least likely to recommend their hospital
CBC News
According to an online survey, B.C. nurses are least likely to recommend the hospitals where they work.
Design proposals sought for mental health facility
24 Hours Vancouver
VCH has released a request for qualification for teams interested in building a recently announced mental health facility.
Northern B.C. health care is failing, say critics
Nanaimo Daily News
An Auditor General report has found that there are major issues with air ambulance and paramedic services in northern B.C. With mention of VCH statistics.
A journey from Sheila to James for transgender radio announcer in Victoria
Vancouver Sun
A female Victoria news anchor is now signing on as a man after having sex reassignment surgery. With mention of Gail Knudson, the medical director of the transgender health program at VCH.